Friday, Nov. 19th - Pyjama Day!
2021-11-19 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto)
Pyjama Day is Friday! Wear your cozy p.j.’s to school for our first Spirit Day of the year!
Please wear your regular, safe shoes and leave your stuffies at home to wait for your return after school – Thank You!
Student Council

Rousseau Gift Drive - Dec. 6th to Dec. 13th
2021-12-05 00:00

Dec. 13th - Winter Theme Spirit Day
2021-12-05 08:00 - 17:00
Student council has created Spirit Days for the rest of the year! Students are invited to dress-up with a winter weather theme — something different than their regular daily cold weather clothing!
Ideas to consider could be anything related to: snow, snowflakes, snow-people, snowy climate animals (polar bear, Arctic/white hare, Arctic/white fox), s’mores, hot chocolate, ski goggles on your head, figure skating outfit, hockey* goalie mask or jersey; characters such as Elsa/Anna from Frozen, “Jack Frost”, “Mother nature” in winter….use your creativity!
*no bulky hockey padding or sticks
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, January 21st WHOLE-CLASS THEME DRESS-UP (Think “twin day”, but more inclusive —- the whole-class + staff member(s) all dressed similarly! Classes will discuss & plan this with their educators in January)

Mon., Dec. 13th - Winter Theme Spirit Day
2021-12-13 08:00 - 17:00
Show your love for all things snow & winter! A day to dress-up with a winter theme or in clothing for a winter activity!
Inspiration:
Snow & snowflakes, snow people
snowy climate animal (polar bear, penguin, Arctic fox)
s’mores & hot chocolate
Sports: ski goggles on your head, figure skating outfit, hockey* goalie mask or jersey
fictional characters like, “Elsa” & “Anna” from Frozen….. “Jack Frost”…..“Mother nature” in winter
….use your creativity!
*please leave bulky items like hockey padding or sticks at home

Fri., Feb. 18th - Beach Day (spirit day)
2022-02-16 08:00 - 17:00
Hello Rousseau Community,
This Friday, we’d like to welcome students to “Beach Day”, where the sun is always shining even if it isn’t! This Friday we say goodbye to winter and hello to the “hot summer sun” of our imaginations, as we dress in our summer clothes! (under our warm winter gear!)
Even though we want to have fun, students should still be protected from the freezing cold. So, still wear all your usual winter clothes for outside, but dress appropriately for the spirit day under your coats, snowpants and boots!
PLEASE DO WEAR THE FOLLOWING: (if you’d like to participate)

Regular boots for outside and your appropriate indoor shoes (no inappropriate shoes such as sandals, flip flops or open toed shoes)
Masks, as per usual
Bright summery clothing (maybe beach or flower patterns?)
Consider wearing optional accessories eg. Sunglasses, hats, flower leis, etc.

PLEASE LEAVE AT HOME:

swim wear
large props eg. Pool noodle, surf boards etc.

Hope students & staff are all able to celebrate this bright and beautiful day!
Sincerely,
Rousseau Student Council

March 11th - Clubs/Activities/Teams Spirit Day!
2022-03-11 08:00
Hey, Rousseau! Do you have a special hobby or activity that you do outside of school? This Friday, we have a clubs, activities, and sports related spirt day! You can wear a tshirt, sweatshirt/hoody or hat from a HOBBY that you enjoy:
Horseback riding….choir or theatre or art class…a sports team that you are part of (or that you like to cheer on!)…Scouts or Guides….a summer camp community that you are part of, etc.. You could even wear a shirt that represents something you collect (unicorns, Pokemon, etc) or something you love to watch (Paw Patrol, Stranger Things, etc.) Everyone is included!
[Please leave any accessories such as sports equipment at home – thank you!]
Let’s show our school spirit by sharing with each other all the things that we are interested in!
Rousseau Student Council
(written by Maeve & Ashton, Student Council Executive)

Silly Dress-up Day - Friday, April 1st
2022-04-01
April 1st (Friday) – Silly Dress-up Day
Be silly for April Fools’ Day! Students are invited to wear silly glasses, shirts or hats! Let’s have a truly fun “Fun Friday” and show our school spirit.
*Out of respect to the variety of cultures and traditions in our communities, this Spirit Day does not include hair. This Spirit Day also does not include hats or headwear that are misappropriated from marginalized people (Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour). Thank you!
Rousseau Student Council

Primary & Junior Choir - April 7th, Break 2
2022-04-07 13:35 - 13:55
Primary & Junior Choirs – April 7th
Mrs. Stinson & Mrs. Bishop (Primary Choir) and Ms Fawcett (Junior Choir) are looking forward to welcoming students to choir practices starting Thursday, April 7th! Choir practises will occur every Day 2 in Break 2.
Junior choir (grades 4, 5, 6) will meet in the gym, in mixed cohorts.
Primary Choir (grades 1, 2, 3) will meet in the library, in mixed cohorts.
Students will be invited on morning announcements to attend. Families can decide if choir is an option for their child at this time, and teachers will welcome students who arrive at rehearsals.
We are excited to be able to offer the option of extra-curricular music making at school!

Rousseau Virtual Book Fair (Scholastic)
2022-05-07 00:00 - 2022-05-21 00:00 | Online
The Book Fair is back! Our Book Fair will be virtual this year which means that families will use this link to make any purchases: https://virtualbookfairs.scholastic.ca/pages/5184091

Payment is also completed online, and purchases will be delivered to Rousseau. Items will then be delivered to classrooms. This link will be live from May 7th – May 21st, 2022. All purchases must be made during this 2-week period.

If you have any questions, please email Miss. Turco at aturco@hwdsb.on.ca. Happy reading!

SPIRIT DAY Friday, May 20th - Dress Like a Book or Movie Character
2022-05-13 08:00 - 17:00
Students & staff are invited to dress up as a favourite BOOK (or MOVIE) character! Show your love for all things literacy & media literacy!
Similar to Hallowe’en, students are reminded to consider cultural sensitivity, identity, and appropriation when choosing their character. In the same way, please leave any large accessories, gory details and/or “weapons” at home (magic wands are excepted). If you are aren’t sure, your classroom teacher can help guide you ahead of time.
Student Council

May 27th - Orange Button Day & Orange Shirts
2022-05-26 08:00 - 17:00
Families are reminded that students may wear the Orange Button they purchased from HWDSB to mark the one year anniversary of the confirmation of graves at the Kamloops Residential School on May 28th, 2022. Buttons were designed and initiated by the HWDSB Indigenous student group CC:ROSE (Cultivating Community: Reclaiming Our Spaces in Education)
Students may also choose to wear an orange shirt, if they wish.

Rousseau Track & Field Day JUNE 2nd - Grades 3-6
2022-06-02 | Rousseau School
REVISED: June 2nd @ Rousseau (due to inclement weather on June 1st)
Track & Field – Grades 3-6

June 8th @ 6:00-8:00 p.m. - THE EVOLUTION OF INCLUSION (Zoom)
2022-06-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Online (zoom)
Joint SEAC – June 8, 2022 (1)

HWDSB Track & Field Meet
2022-06-17
Grade 3-6 Rousseau students who will represent our school at the HWDSB Track & Field Meet will be selected by school staff after our own June 1st track & field event.

Terry Fox Run - Sept. 23rd, 2022
2022-09-23 14:45
Please donate at this link to the Terry Fox Foundation if you are able to. Thank you!
http://www.terryfox.ca/RousseauPSAncaster
Our Terry Fox Run will involve students and staff, and take place on September 23rd at Rousseau.

Sept. 26th - 30th - National Truth & Reconciliation Week
2022-09-26 09:15 - 2022-09-30 15:35
Classes at Rousseau might participate in lessons this week to help children understand the affects of the Canadian Indian Residential School system on Indigenous youth and their descendants. Sources may included read alouds appropriate to your child’s age. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions.
If you plan to purchase orange shirts for your family, please consider an Indigenous-owned company or company that is donating it’s profits to Indigenous-led initiatives.
A list of suggested creators and suppliers can be found here.

September 30th - Orange Shirt Day (Canada's National Day for Truth & Reconciliation)
2022-09-30
“September 30th has been declared Orange Shirt Day annually, in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children’s sense of self-esteem and well being, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters.” – Orange Shirt Society
On September 30th, we wear Orange Shirts, if able, to create awareness about the impacts of the Indian Residential Schools forced up Indigenous children from 1831 (Mohawk Institute in Brantford) to 1997 (Kivalliq Hall in Rankin Inlet). Orange Shirt Day – National Day for Truth & Reconciliation was inspired by the experiences of Phyllis Webstad, who attended the Williams Lake Residential School. Phyllis is Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band).
There were 139 Residential Schools during this time. Residential Schools were created to strip Indigenous children of their culture (language, customs, beliefs), which created trauma to children, their families and their communities. Too many children suffered abuse and neglect as well, and too many lost their lives as a result. Intergenerational trauma was created within Indigenous communities and exists today.
Families could consider supporting Indigenous orange shirt creators (and businesses who donate their orange shirt profits to Indigenous-led initiatives). Visit this link for suggestions.

Deadline for ordering Pizza: Oct. 31st
2022-10-31
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Pizza Day at Rousseau
Pizza Day will be starting up at Rousseau on Wed, Nov 2. The order will be placed for the following Wednesdays: Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 16, Nov 23 and Nov 30. Parents/Guardians are invited to order pizza for their child/ren through School Cash Online by Mon, Oct 31. Families will be given the opportunity to order pizza for the next block of pizza days later in November.
We will be ordering our pizza from Dominos in Ancaster. Students may have cheese or pepperoni. Students will be given the option of ordering up to 3 slices. There is a gluten free option as well. Each slice will cost $2.00.
Orders will be processed via School Cash Online only. If you haven’t already done so, please click on the following link to sign up: https://hwdsb.schoolcashonline.com/
If there are any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Bennett (bbennett@hwdsb.on.ca)
Thank you,
Rousseau Staff

Oct. 31st, 2022 - Hallowe'en at Rousseau
2022-10-31
On Monday October 31, students are invited to wear their costumes to school for our Halloween parade! Around 9:30, our Kindergarten classes will lead the parade to the West (Primary) Wing of the school, then to the East (Junior) Wing of the school and then back to their classes. Students in Grades 1-6 will join in as the parade goes through their classes. Parents and caregivers are welcome to stand in our hallways to observe. Families are reminded to please only photograph their child. Later in the day, students will have Halloween parties in their classroom. A Junior Halloween dance (grades 4, 5, 6) will also happen in the afternoon. Junior students who do not wish to participate in the dance will have the option of quiet activities in one of the Junior classrooms (e.g board games or cards that the student might bring, drawing, etc.).
Safety Reminders
Please do not include parts of a costume or props that resemble weapons or gore. Costumes must not impede students’ vision.
Thank you in advance to families who would like to share pre-packaged only (i.e. store bought) Halloween treats with their child’s class. To support the safety of all our students, please read product labels to ensure that only nut-free items are brought to school.
A reminder that our parking lot is a very busy place and that parking is only allowed in designated spots outside the staff parking lot. There is parking on Tuscarora Drive and Cayuga Avenue. Improperly parked cars could be ticketed. Thank you for supporting our students’ safety.

Nov. 9th - 15th - Rousseau Poppy Campaign
2022-11-09 09:15 - 2022-11-15 15:30
With pandemic protocols lifted, students are now able to donate loonies and toonies at school this week, to benefit the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Fund.
Rousseau students may bring loonies or toonies to their classroom (or other donation). Class 6A students will collect donations daily. In light of our later start with donations, Rousseau will accept donations on behalf of the Legion until Tuesday, November 15th.
All Rousseau students will receive a poppy on Friday, November 11th, regardless of whether or not they donate at school.
Students & staff only will gather to observe Remembrance Day and Two Minutes of Silence at the appropriate time on Friday.
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Use of Poppy Trust Funds – from the Royal Canadian Legion
Through your donations to the Legion Poppy Fund, the Legion provides financial assistance and support to Veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families who are in need. Poppy Funds may be used for:

Grants for food, heating costs, clothing, prescription medication, medical appliances and equipment, essential home repairs and emergency shelter or assistance for Veterans and their families in need
Housing accommodation and care facilities for Veterans
Funding for Veteran Transition Programs that are directly related to the training, education and support needs of Veterans and their families
Comforts for Veterans and their surviving spouses who are hospitalized and in need
Veterans visits, transportation, reading programs and day trips
Accessibility modifications to assist Veterans with disabilities
Educational bursaries for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Veterans
Support of cadet units
Community drop-in centres, meals-on-wheels, and seniors services in communities where Veterans would benefit
Community medical appliances, medical training and medical research which will assist in the care of Veterans in the community
Support the work of Legion Command and Branch Service Officers across Canada in assisting and representing Veterans
Donations for relief of disasters declared by federal or provincial governments which impact Veteran in those communities
Promotion and administering of Remembrance activities to ensure Canadians never forget the sacrifices of Canada’s Veterans

Rousseau Gift Drive begins - Dec. 9th (ends 20th; extended by a day)
2022-12-09 08:00 - 2022-12-19 17:00
Rousseau Gift Drive – Dec. 9 – 20th (extended by a day)

Rousseau Gift Drive - ends on Tuesday, Dec. 20th (extended by a day)
2022-12-09 08:00 - 2022-12-20 08:00

Food Drive begins Dec. 10th (ends 19th)
2022-12-10 08:00 - 2022-12-19 17:00
Food Drive – Dec. 10th – 19th

Food Drive ends on Monday (Dec. 19th)
2022-12-16 08:00 - 17:00

Winter Assembly - Dec. 21st @ 2:00 p.m.
2022-12-21 14:00 - 15:15 | Rousseau Gymnasium
Dear Rousseau families,
Our Primary Choir (Mrs. Stinson, Mrs. Bishop) and Junior Choir (Ms Fawcett) and Kindergarden/Primary & Junior Music classes (Mrs. Stinson & Ms Fawcett, respectively) are pleased to present a concert of winter-themed and holiday music to students, staff and caregivers on:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21st @ 2:00 p.m.
Please join us for songs and a sing-a-long! Caregivers are reminded to please park in the outer lot only (guest lot) in the marked spots only (not the middle of the lot) and that the bus area and crossing guard parking spot are left open. There is also street parking available in the area.

Jan. 19 - Jan. 30th Rousseau Read-a-thon
2023-01-19 08:00 - 2023-01-30 17:00 | Rousseau School
Rousseau Read-a-thon post 2023

Book "Spirit Day" - EDIT: Monday, January 30th
2023-01-30 09:15 - 15:35
Book “Spirit Day” – Thursday, Jan. 26th

Mad Science 3:40pm - 4:40pm
2023-01-31 15:40 - 16:40
Mad Science starts January 31 and ends March 28 from 3:40-4:40 for interested families. Families should register directly through Mad Science.

Feb. 6th - popcorn ordering deadline (School Cash Online)
2023-02-07 08:00 - 17:00
Dear Families.
Class 3/4A will be fundraising for their trip to Stratford in June. To help keep costs down, they will be delivering Kernels Popcorn every Thursday from February 9th until March 9th. Please go to School Cash Online to submit your orders by February 6th.
Thanks for your support!

Feb. 22nd: Pink Shirt Day
2023-02-22 08:00 - 17:00
HWDSB is excited to once again recognize Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 22. Students and staff are encouraged to wear a pink shirt in honour of Pink Shirt Day – a day to raise awareness and stand up against bullying.

Please note: Many schools in HWDSB, including Rousseau, originally began by celebrating International Day of Pink, which takes place this year on Wednesday, April 12th.

We are encouraged to wear pink shirts on both days!
